Tongue Diagnosis in Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Tongue Diagnosis in Chinese Medicine (TCM)

15/09/2014

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"The Lungs rule the sk in, sweat sweat glands, an d body hair."

Tongue Diagnosis in Chin C hinese ese Medici Medicine ne Introduction The tongue has many relationships and connections in the body, both to the meridians and the internal organs. It is therefore very useful and important during inspection for c onfirming TCM diagnosis. diagnosis. It can present st rong visual indi indicat cat ors of a person's overall harmony or disharmony.

Fo ur Methods Looking Loo king Listening

The tongue has a special relationship with the Heart, in that the Heart opens to the tongue. The tongue is said to be an "offshoot" of the Heart, or "flowers" into the Heart. The normal tongue in Traditional Chinese Medicine has a light red or pinkish body with a thin white coating.

Asking

Connections

Palpation/Pulse Pal pation/Pulse

Channels/Meridians Reaching the Tongue

TCM Pulse/Tongue Tongue Diagnosis Pulse Puls e Diagnosis 29 Pulse Images Pulse Indication Table

Treatment Methods 11 Tx Methods

TCM Patterns 8 Principles

Heart Channel (Hand Channel (Hand Shaoyin) - The Luo connecting channel channel connects t o the root of the t ongu ongue. e. Spleen Channel (Foot Channel (Foot Taiyin) - An internal branch of the primary channel spreads over the lover surface of the tongue. - The tongue is penetrated by the Spleen Divergent channel Kidney Channel (Foot Channel (Foot Shaoyin) - An internal branch of the primary channel terminates at the base of the tongue. Bladder Channel (Foot Channel (Foot Taiyang Taiyang)) - A branch of the muscle/sinew channel binds to the root of the tongue. San Jiao Channel (Hand Channel (Hand Shaoyang) - A branch of the San Jiao muscle channel links with the root of the tongue.

Qi, Blood, Body Fluid Fluids s Zang Za ng Fu Patterns Six Stages Four Levels San Jiao

General TCM General Symptoms Yin Yang Table

TCM Gynecology Early Menses Late Menses Irregular Menses Heavy Menses Scanty Menses Extended Menses Bleeding Between Menses Amenorrhea Dysmenorrhea Flooding and Tricklin Trickling g Associated Symptoms

Tongue areas as they correspond to internal organs in Chinese Medicine

Tongue Diagnosis Method and Cautions Lighting Sunlight will give the most accurate color of the tongue body and coat. If sunlight is not available, use a second light source such as a small flashlight to compare the tongue color to the original light source. Position The tongue should be extended in a relaxed manner, and should not be held out for an extended duration. Food a nd Drink Drink Food and drink, such as coffee, green tea, and candy may alter the color of the tongue coating. Brush Br ushed ed Ton ue

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Some pat ients may brush t heir tongue to help freshen their breath or as an Ayurvedic practice. Ask the patient not to brush their tongue, at least the day of their TCM tongue diagnosis. Seasons of the Year In Summer, there may be more Dampness present in the tongue coating, leaving it slightly thicker and light yellow. In Fall or Autumn, the tongue may be thinner with a coating that is more dry. In Winter, there may also be more moist or damp presenting in the tongue. In Spring, the tongue should be normal. Time of Day The coating of the tongue usually becomes thinner as the day progresses, while the color of the tongue body becomes more red and shiny. Patient's Age In the elderly, Qi and Blood Deficiency is more common, so the tongue may present with dryness and cracks. Infants tend to have white thick coating that is easily removed, peeled tongues are also common. Overweight patients usually have more Damp and/or Phlegm and therefore their tongues may be larger and lighter in color. Thin patients tend towards redder tongues. [ Top of Page ]

Tongue Feature Indications Tongue Body Color Tongue Body Shape Tongue Body Features Tongue Body Moisture Tongue Coating Tongue Coat Thickness Tongue Body Cracks Tongue Coat Root [ Top of Page ]

Tongue Body Color Indicates the state of Blood, Yin organs, and Ying (Nutritive) Qi. Normal Tongue Body Pink or light red in color Bluish Purple or Reddish Purple Tongue Body Purple can indicate both Heat and Cold conditions. A reddish purple tongue indicat es Heat and Blood Stagnation. A dark reddish purple tongue t hat is dry usually indicat es depleted fluids due to Excess Heat A light purple, bluish purple, or greenish purple tongue body color can indicat e Cold and Blood Stagnation. Red Tongue Body A red tongue body is darker than the normal red, which is pinkish in color. It indicates either Deficient or Excess Heat. A red tongue body with a thick yellow coat or swollen buds indicates Excess Heat A red tongue body with a bright shiny coat, little coat, or no coating indicates Deficient Heat. Red Tip Heat in the Heart Zang Scarlet Tongue Body A scarlet tongue that is also peeled or shiny indicates Yin Deficiency, usually of the Heart and/or Lung depending on the area of swelling. Dark Red Tongue Body The red is darker and more crimson in color. This tongue body can indicate internal injury such as trauma (De Da), invasion of external evil in the Ying (Nutritive) and Xue (blood) levels, or it can indicate Blood Stagnation. If there are red spots with a thin coat, this usually indicates damage to the Ying or Xue level. If the tongue body also has cracks and there is little or no tongue


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coat, this usually indicates Deficient Heat due to internal injury. Pale Tongue Body Indicat es t he quality of Blood, reflect ing Blood and/or Qi Deficienc y or Cold. If the tongue body is also moist, tender, and swollen, this can indicate Yang Cold. A pale t hin tongue body usually indicate s Qi and Blood Deficienc y. Green Tongue Body A green tongue body usually indicates Excess Yin Cold or the presence of a strong Excess evil with weak Zheng Qi. The Yang is not properly moving Blood and Fluids and there is Stagnation in the body. Internal Wind may also present with a green tongue body. [ Top of Page ]

Tongue Body Shape The body shape reflects the state of Blood and Ying (Nutritive) Qi, and indicates Excess or Deficiency. Constitution can also affect the shape of the tongue body. Stiff A stiff or rigid tongue is difficult to move (protrude, retract, side to side). This may cause speech abnormalities such as slurring or mumbled speech. A stiff tongue is an indication of Excess, and often one of Internal Wind. If a stiff tongue is accompanied by a bluish purple tongue body, this usually indicates potential or impending Wind-Stroke. If a stiff tongue is accompanied by a bright red tongue body, this usually indicates heat in the Heart and Pericardium disturbing the Shen (Spirit). If a stiff tongue is accompanied by a thick sticky tongue coating, this usually indicates "Phlegm Misting the Heart". Flaccid The flaccid tongue is the opposite of the stiff tongue. It is weak and lacks strength. It usually indicates Deficiency. When heat has consumed and damaged body fluids, they can not rise t o nourish the tongue. This can indicate Yin Deficiency, Qi Deficiency and/or Blood Deficienc y. A flaccid tongue that is also pale usually indicates Qi and Blood Deficiency. A flaccid tongue that is also dark red, dry, and has cracks usually indicates extreme heat injuring fluids. A flaccid tongue body with a scarlet tongue body usually indicates Exhaustion of Yin. Swollen This is a very large tongue body and can indicate both Excess and Deficiency. A swollen tongue that is also pale can indicate Qi Deficiency A swollen tongue that is also bright red and painful can indicate Heart and Spleen Heat. This could also be due to excess alcohol consumption. Big or Enlarged Tongue An enlarged tongue can indicate Phlegm, Damp, or Water Stagnation. An enlarged tongue with a pale body and a moist coat may indicate Spleen and Kidney Y ang Deficiency An enlarged tongue with a red body and a greasy yellow coat may indicat e Spleen and Stomach Damp-Heat. Half the Tongue Is Swollen A half swollen tongue may indicate general weakness of the Channels. Hammer Shaped This is where the front half or third of the tongue is enlarged at the sides. A hammer shaped tongue usually indicates Spleen, Stomach, and Kidney Deficiency


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This tongue is almost always indicative of a serious condition, and may indicate mental illness. Local Swelling on One Side Localized swelling of tongue with a normal tongue body c olor indicates Qi Deficiency Localized swelling of tongue with a red tongue body color indicates Qi and/or Blood Stagnation Swollen Sides A tongue with swelling in Liver and Gallbladder area usually indicates Rising Liver Yang or Liver Fire. Swollen Between the Tip and the Central Surface This area corresponds to the Lung area and usually presents with a normal or pale tongue body. This tongue is usually found in patients with chronic Lung and Spleen Deficiency, which t ends tow ard Damp and Phlegm accumulation. Swollen Edges This tongue may indicate Spleen Qi or yang Deficiency. If Spleen Yang is Deficient, the edges will also be wet. Swollen Tip When the very tip of the tongue is swollen, it usually indicates Heart problems. If the tongue is also deep red, this may indicate Heart Fire. If the tongue is normal in color or pale, this may indicate Heart Qi Deficiency. Short a nd Contracted When the patient can not show the entire tongue, it usually indicat es a more severe disease. If the tongue is also moist and pale, this indicates stagnation of Cold (bluish/purple) in the meridians or Spleen Yang Deficiency. If a contracted tongue also has a sticky tongue coating, this may indicat e Turbid-Phlegm blocking t he c hannels. If the tongue is also deep red and dry, excessive heat has consumed Body Fluids and stirred up internal Wind. A short, swollen, tender, and pale tongue usually indicates Qi and Blood Deficienc y. A short or small frenum may be inherited and is normal. Long There is difficulty in retracting the tongue. This indicates interior Excess Heat, Heart Fire, or Phlegm-F ire Misting the Heart. There may be numbness which is associated with Front Swollen Swelling towards the front one-third of the tongue may indicate Phlegm retention in the Lungs. Thin This can indicate that Qi and Blood are deficient and not able to properly nourish and moisturize the tongue. The tongue body will also usually be pale in color with Qi and Blood Deficiency. A thin tongue that is also dark red and dry may indicate Yin Deficient Fire. [ Top of Page ]

Tongue Bo dy Features Rough or Tender Texture A tender tongue that appears smooth, delicate, and is possibly swollen indicates deficiency. A rough tongue t hat appears wrinkled and rough indicates Excess. Red Spots Red s ots ma http://www.sacredlotus.com/diagnosis/tongue/

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attacking the Heart. Red spots can indicate the presence of Damp-Heat in the Xue Level, where t he internal organs are ac cumulating toxins. Red spots on the Tip (Lung/Heart area) is usually not severe and may present in the beginning stages of illness. Red spots on t he ent ire t ongue may indicate a more severe illness. Red spots on the sides of the tongue (Liver/Gallbladder area) may also indicate a more severe illness. Red spots on the back of the tongue (Kidney area) may indicate the advanced stage or chronic nature of an illness. White Spots White spots are usually due to Spleen and Stomach Qi Deficiency together with excess heat accumulating in the body. In this case, the tongue may also have sores and pus. Black Spots Black spot s usually indicate Qi and Blood Stagnat ion or heat in t he Blood. Ulcerated Tongue Body in progress... Numb Tongue Body in progress... Loose Tongue Body in progress... Deviated Tongue Body This is where the tongue tends toward one side of the mouth This is due to Wind, either from exterior Pathogenic Wind or internal Wind-Damp patterns. Moving, Lolling, Wagging, Playful Tongue Body This usually indicat es heat in the Heart and Spleen c hannels stirring up internal Wind. In children, this may indicate developmental problems. Rolled Tongue Body in progress... Teeth Marks on Tongue Body (Scalloped) If the tongue body has normal color, this usually indicat es Spleen Qi Deficienc y If there are teeth marks together with a swollen tongue, this may indicate Spleen Yang and/or Qi Deficiency. If the tongue is also pale and moist, it is more likely Spleen Yang Deficiency or a Cold-Damp patt ern. Quivering or Trembling Tongue Body Trembling of the tongue that can not be controlled may be due to external febrile disease or excess heat consuming Yin. The excess heat stirs up Internal Wind. The tongue body will be a deep red color and the pulse will be rapid. If the tongue body is pale and trembling, this usually indicat es a chronic condition of Qi and Blood Deficiency, where the tongue is not being nourished. Side effects of some western medications (pharmaceuticals) may cause trembling of the tongue. Sore Covered Tongue Body in progress... [ Top of Page ]

Tongue Bo dy Moisture Reveals the state of Yin and Fluids in the body. Dry Tongue Body


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in progress... Slightly Dry Tongue Body in progress... Wet Tongue Body in progress... [ Top of Page ]

Tongue C oating Indicates the state of the Yang organs, especially the Stomach. White Tongue Coat A t hin white tongue c oating is normal. A thin white tongue coating can also indicate external Cold patte rns when t he appropriate c linical symptoms are present. With a moist and pale tongue, a thicker white coating can indicate Damp-Cold. A dry white coating can indicate Cold turning to Heat and starting to dry body fluids. White Like Powder Tongue Coa t A white and thick tongue coating like powder indicates turbidity and external pathogenic heat. This coating will usually change to yellow after a short time if the patient is not treated. If the tongue body is dark red, interior toxins may be present. White Like Snow Tongue Coa t This may indicate exhaustion of Spleen yang with Damp-Cold in the Middle Jiao Yellow Tongue Coat A slightly yellow coat ing indicates Wind-Heat or Wind-Cold turning to Wind-Heat A yellow tongue coat indicates an interior heat pattern. The deeper the color of yellow, the more severe heat. A burnt yellow indicates further accumulation of heat in the body. If the coating is yellow and moist and the tongue body is swollen and tender, t his indicate s interior Damp-Heat or Yang Deficienc y. In the case of Yang Deficiency, the tongue is showing false heat signs, as the Yin has forced the Yang to the surface of the body. Dirty Y ellow Tongue Coa t This t ongue coat ing may indicate Stomach and Intest inal DampHeat Simultaneous White and Yellow Tongue Coating Can indicate a Shaoyang pattern Can indicate a simultaneous Heat and Cold pattern, or a Cold pattern turning to Heat Can indicate a simultaneous Interior and Exterior pattern Gray Tongue Coat This tongue coating usually indicates an internal pattern of either Heat or Damp-Cold. A dry gray coating can indicate internal Excess Heat scorching Body Fluids or Yin Deficient Fire. A we t or moist gray c oating usually indicate s Cold-Damp Stagnation or Damp-Phlegm retention. Black Tongue Coat Similar to the Gray coating above, but more severe. The black coating usually develops from gray or a burnt yellow coating. A dry black coating (usually with cracks) may indicate excessive Heat burning body fluids. A moist black coating and a pale tongue body may indicate Yang Deficiency, Internal Excess Cold, with or without the presence of Dampness. Both Gray and Black tongue c oating can indicat e extreme Cold (wet tongue) or extreme Heat (dry tongue). http://www.sacredlotus.com/diagnosis/tongue/

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Western drugs such as antibiotics can also cause a black tongue coating. Half Yellow, Half White (Longitudinally) This coating may indicate Heat in the Liver and Gallbladder Yellow Root With A White Tip This may indicate that exterior Pathogenic Heat is penet rating more deeply into the interior of the body. Black in the Center, White and Slippery on the Sides This may indicat e Spleen Yang Deficiency with interior Damp-Cold [ Top of Page ]

Tongue C oat Thickness Thin Coating Normal In disease, it indicates the disease is either external or an internal disease that is not severe. If the tongue coating changes from thick to thin, this indicates pathogens are moving to the exterior of the body and the disease is waning. Thick Coating A thick coating usually indicates more of an internal disease that is more severe. It may also indicate that exterior pathogenic factors have penetrated more deeply into the body. A thick tongue coating may also indicate retention of food. If the tongue coating changes from thin to thick, this indicates pathogens are penetrating deeper into the interior of the body. Peeled, Mirrored, Shiny, No Coating With a mirrored tongue, there is no coating on the tongue. In less severe cases, there may be a partial coating on the tongue. If the body of the tongue is also red, it usually indicates that Stomach Qi and Yin is severely damaged. If the tongue body is also light in color, this may indicate that Qi and Blood of the Spleen and Stomach is damaged and Deficient. If the tongue body is also red or dark, Stomach and Kidney Yin is damaged (body fluids dried up) due to heat.

Tongue Body Cracks Short Horizontal Cracks in progress... Long Horizontal Cracks in progress... Transverse Cracks On the Sides of the Tongue in progress... Transverse Cracks Behind Tip in progress... Transverse Cracks in progress... Very Deep Ventral Cracks With Other Smaller Cracks in progress... Cracks Like Ice Floes in progress... Vertical Cracks in the Center in progress...


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Irregular C racks in progress... [ Top of Page ]

Tongue Coat Root Tongue Coat Has Root The normal tongue coating has Root, which means that is "rooted" or attached to the surface of the tongue body. It can not be easily scraped off or removed. Tongue Coat Has No Root A coating without root rests on the surface of the tongue, but can easily be removed or sc raped off. A c oating without root usually indicat es impairment of S pleen, Stomach, and Kidneys.

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Tongue Diagnosis in Chinese Medicine (TCM)

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